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Name:
Smith, James Mickey
Date of Booking:
12/08/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
Terroristic Threats and Acts – Intimidation
Criminal damage to property 2nd degree-Family violence (F)
Exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elder persons, and residents; obstruction of investigation.
Battery Against a Person who is 65 YOA or Older
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 12/8/2025 at approximately 1134 hrs I responded to [300 BLOCK] Harpers Lake Dr. Hiram for a Dispute, which resulted in an arrest.
While enroute to the above location, dispatch advised that the suspect on scene was heard saying “If Law Enforcement does not get here soon he will kill the caller.”
I arrived on scene and detained a white male wearing all black. I identified the male as James Smith DOB: [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1984. James told me that he already knows, he does not want to talk, and told me to just take him to jail. I placed James in handcuffs and checked for fit. I notified James he was detained at that time. I patted James down for weapons, nothing was located.
I made contact with the caller, James’s father, [VICTIM #1] DOB: [REDACTED BY AGENCY] 1954. [VICTIM #1] said that James was playing XBOX and drinking whiskey all night. [VICTIM #1] said when James plays XBOX that it uses all the wifi so [VICTIM #1] shut the power off to the XBOX. [VICTIM #1] said James got angry and started throwing things around the house, including cabinetry, kitchen appliances, and other misc. kitchen items.
[VICTIM #1] told Deputies that during the dispute James struck [VICTIM #1] in the head, face and neck with his fists and misc. kitchen items. [VICTIM #1] said during the physical aspect to the dispute, [VICTIM #1] sustained a scrape on his forehead which bled. I observed the scrape, redness often associated with future bruising and swelling on [VICTIM #1].
[VICTIM #1] told Deputies that James told him while he was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher that James said he would kill [VICTIM #1] if Law Enforcement did not arrive soon.
[VICTIM #1] then showed me his vehicle, the 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 blue in color, bearing the tag #: [REDACTED]. [VICTIM #1] said that James had thrown a cement block at the hood / grille of his truck. I observed dents and scratches to the hood and front of [VICTIM #1]’s truck, the cement block was still sitting on the hood. [VICTIM #1] told me he approximated the value of the damage to his truck to be between $2000 to $3000.
I explained the TPO (Temporary Protective Order) to [VICTIM #1] and advised him to apply for one as soon as possible. I requested Dispatch to run James’s information. Dispatch notified me of a warrant hit for James out of Bartow for “Obstruction of LEO”. I instructed dispatch to not confirm the warrant due to having multiple charges. [VICTIM #1] was checked by Paulding Fire and Metro Ambulance.
I informed James and [VICTIM #1] that James was going to jail for the following charges: Battery – Family Violence, Criminal Damage to Property in the 2nd Degree, Terroristic Threats – F, and Exploitation and intimidation of, elder persons, and residents; obstruction of investigation (Due to [VICTIM #1] being 71 years old).
I transported James to the Paulding County Detention Center where custody was transferred to the jail staff without incident. I notified James’s probation officer Kennith Green of today’s incident. Kennith said he would be taking a warrant out as well. I cleared the call and returned to service.
Later, warrants were obtained for the above charges and signed by a judge. Warrants were turned into the warrants division and copies were provided to the jail.
[End of Narrative]
The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
3/11/26
INDICTMENT ISSUED
What this means: A Paulding County grand jury formally charged James Mickey Smith with four felony counts in case 26-CR-000114-P3: exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult/elder person, terroristic threats, criminal damage to property in the second degree, and battery/family violence. The indictment alleges these crimes occurred on or about December 8, 2025, involving a 65-year-old person. District Attorney Robert S. Lane signed the indictment.
3/12/26
STATE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE
What this means: Senior Assistant District Attorney Jill Hartsfield officially entered the case as lead prosecutor for the State of Georgia in the Paulding Judicial Circuit. All future court notices and pleadings will be sent to her office at 280 Constitution Blvd., Suite 2072 in Dallas, Georgia.
3/16/26
ARRAIGNMENT NOTICE ISSUED
What this means: The Paulding County Superior Court scheduled James Mickey Smith’s arraignment hearing for April 28, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge T David Lyles. Smith is required to appear in Court Room 3 of the Judicial Center Building. The notice was signed and mailed by Clerk Sheila M. Butler, and Smith is currently in custody.
4/7/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE AND WAIVES ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: Katherine Griffiths, a Public Defender with the Paulding Judicial Circuit, officially became James Mickey Smith’s court-appointed attorney. She filed paperwork invoking standard criminal case procedures, waived Smith’s right to be present at the formal arraignment hearing and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges on his behalf. This also requests a jury trial for Smith’s case.
4/17/26
DISCOVERY PROVIDED BY STATE
What this means: The prosecution shared evidence and case materials with James Mickey Smith’s defense attorney Katherine Griffiths, as required by law. This typically includes police reports, witness statements, physical evidence, and other materials the state plans to use in its case against Smith.
4/28/26
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED
What this means: This was the scheduled date for James Mickey Smith’s arraignment hearing at 9:00 a.m. before Judge T David Lyles in Paulding County Superior Court. However, since his attorney already waived his appearance and entered a not guilty plea on April 7th, Smith likely did not need to physically appear for this hearing.